Cattle Wagons

For such a large group of wagons, there wasn't much variation in the Victorian Railways Cattle wagon fleet. There were over 800 M vans built and 25 MF bogie vans. In 1975 the fleet was supplemented by the introduction of the MC cattle containers. These were placed on KQ and KMQ 4 wheel flat wagons and on FQX bogie flat wagons.

I have constructed a number of M vans from the wonderful Steam Era Models kits and scratchbuilt KQ and KMQ flat wagons which carry SDS models MC cattle containers. Here's some variations that I have constructed.


Standard M cattle wagon (with cow)



Standard M van and an MB. 2 M vans converted to transport bulls. A plank had been removed and replaced by a lashing rail to which the bulls were tied up to. This is a easy conversion, using a scalpel to remove one of the boards on the side, cleaning up with a file (being careful not to damage the bracing) and then adding wire for the lashing rail. 



M with a raised roof. 5 M's had raised roofs for the transport of elephants in the circus train. The roof was raised by adding additional brackets and bracing with styrene sheet and L angle. The remainder of the wagon is built as per the standard instructions.  



KQ flat wagon with a MC cattle container. 60 outside sill RY wagons were converted to KQ flat wagons between 1969 and 1973. They featured a steel deck with timber battens which the container sat on. The KQ was built from Steam Era Models 10ft underframe with a new deck and sidesills. Brake-wheel and shunters steps were added.



The MC containers were also carried on KMQ and FQX flat wagons. The KMQ wagon was built from a Steam Era Models 15ft U van underframe with a deck added, code board, brake wheel and shunters steps added.

There are other variations that I haven't tried yet. These include disc instead of spoke wheels, or one of each type.  M708 - 879 had different ends, solid where it was open above the bracing on the lower number M's. This could be made out of styrene sheet and added to a standard end. An bogie MF wagon could be scratch built out of scribed styrene sheet, L angle and spare M wagon roofs.

A rake of cattle wagons stored in one of the back roads in Ballarat yard.